Just to be clear. The long nose pliers were not in the sump. They are merely for reference. That doesn't mean my engine building prowess is necessarily still not to blame. Guess we will never know!
GAZ

Them's fight'in words!
Crank and rods are being crack tested once we find out what new rod bolts are worth. They can cost more than a new set of rods. You know which way my luck will fall don't you.
Pistons are a bit scuffed but if the piston to wall clearance isn't too bad I will re use them and spend another minute or two with warm ups.
New roller cam and roller lifters are a given at this stage. I have the original Crow cam card from the mid eighties so maybe cam technology has moved along since then. It had over .700 lift and miles of duration. 108 deg of lobe separation from memory. We will give Crow a call and see what they recommend.
GAZ

Bad news... Bad, bad, bad news.
The block is rooted.
The rear cam bearing and some others are egg shaped at least a quarter of an inch. This effectively negates the ability to use needle rollers and a sleeve as there is no metal left to fit a sleeve into if it was machined out.
I am considering my options at the moment.
GAZ

Mine wasn't a DART block but it was a NASCAR block that had done some time around Mt Panorama and numerous other tracks during the great days of Group C. Besides the cost it is sad that it is the end of and era of the old style of racing as well as the heartbeat of the OVAKIL coupe is now only in peoples memory.
I suppose I will make a coffee table out of it.
GAZ

Well, life goes on. My 32 year love affair with that block is over. I can never look at her the same way again. Not that I will get rid of her, I will just put her in the shed with the rest of my life's memories and try to move on.
Done!
I have brand new Arrow block on order! I need to bore it .030 over to keep the same pistons OR, seeing as though I need new rods anyway, I could go stroker. 878HP before means I could be cracking the 1,000HP mark this time around!
Now I am excited.
What block did I have before?
GAZ